Sgt. Orlando Alvarez saw the argument and approached them, according to the report. Hall, who had a bloody nose, said Messer had punched her in the face and stolen her backpack, which was slung over Messer's shoulder.

Messer took off running after Alvarez asked him what was in the backpack, according to the report. Police said Messer was later found hiding in a bush at a home on Northwest Fourth Street and was arrested at 10:23 p.m.

According to the police report, Alvarez found the backpack in a bush at another home on the same street at a later time. The backpack contained Hall's ID, police said.

Messer was arrested on a felony charge of unarmed robbery and a misdemeanor charge of resisting an officer without violence, according to the report. He was booked into the Alachua County Jail at 11:59 p.m. Tuesday night in lieu of a $40,000 bond.

<p>A Gainesville man was arrested Tuesday after police said he punched a woman in the face, stole her backpack and fled the scene when confronted by a police officer.</p><p>Carter Wayne Messer, 35, of 9204 SE County Road 2082, was arguing with Caroline Denise Hall at 400 NW 10th Ave. around 8:03 p.m., according to a Gainesville Police Department arrest report.</p><p>Sgt. Orlando Alvarez saw the argument and approached them, according to the report. Hall, who had a bloody nose, said Messer had punched her in the face and stolen her backpack, which was slung over Messer's shoulder.</p><p>Messer took off running after Alvarez asked him what was in the backpack, according to the report. Police said Messer was later found hiding in a bush at a home on Northwest Fourth Street and was arrested at 10:23 p.m.</p><p>According to the police report, Alvarez found the backpack in a bush at another home on the same street at a later time. The backpack contained Hall's ID, police said.</p><p>Messer was arrested on a felony charge of unarmed robbery and a misdemeanor charge of resisting an officer without violence, according to the report. He was booked into the Alachua County Jail at 11:59 p.m. Tuesday night in lieu of a $40,000 bond.</p>